THE THIRTEEN ENGLISH COLONIES PACKET 1 ROANOKE ISLAND

THE THIRTEEN ENGLISH COLONIES PACKET #1 ROANOKE ISLAND & JAMESTOWN, VA

ROANOKE ISLAND - 1585 The first attempt by the English to settle in North America was at Roanoke Island (off the present day coast of North Carolina).

1. Explain why the first attempt of English settlement at Roanoke Island failed: The colony ran out of food in less than a year. The colonists decided to return to England. 2. What is meant by the phrase “Lost Colony of Roanoke? ” The 2 nd group of colonists disappeared. Only one clue has ever been found… Crotoan

3. Who was Virginia Dare? She was the first American-born child of English parents, and she was John White’s granddaughter.

4. Describe how the Virginia Company of London raised money to finance the costs of a new colony: 1606 – English merchants formed two companies – the Virginia Company of Plymouth and the Virginia Company of London. Each was a joint stock company that sold shares to investors. If the colony was successful, investors made profits.

5. Which King of England gave a charter to the Virginia Company of London? King James I

6. Why was the charter an important document? It allowed colonists to settle and trade in a certain area of North America.

7. Explain the location of Jamestown, Virginia: It was located on a peninsula 60 miles up the James River.

7. continued……… It was a good spot to keep a lookout for Spanish ships and to trade with Native Americans.

7. continued…. . but, it was swampy, mosquito-infested, and lacked good drinking water.

08. Give the date that the colonists reached Virginia: April 1607

09. What is the main reason the colonists came to Virginia? They came to America looking for gold and adventure.

10. Explain how John Smith took charge at Jamestown: He put everyone to work by saying, “He that will not work shall not eat. ”

11. Describe the “starving time” of Jamestown: It was the winter of 1609 -1610. Only 60 out of over 500 colonists survived. The food ran out. Colonists ate roots, acorns, and insects.

12. What cash crop saved the economy of Jamestown? Who introduced the crop into Virginia? What year? tobacco / John Rolfe / 1612

13. What year were the first Africans brought into Jamestown? How were they treated? 1619 – a Dutch trading ship from the West Indies brought 20 Africans to Jamestown. They were treated like indentured servants.

14. Why did the relations between settlers and Native Americans decline after Powhatan died? The Native Americans resented the amount of land the colonists were taking, and the new chief mistrusted the English colonists.

15. Explain the importance of the House of Burgesses: It was the first representative government in the colonies. (located first at Jamestown and later moved to Williamsburg, VA)

16. Why did King James I take back the charter that had been granted to the London Company? He was unhappy with the way officials were running the Virginia colony. Problems with colonists and the lack of profits caused the king to take back the charter and make Virginia a royal colony.

17. Along what tidal rivers was most tobacco shipped to market? Tobacco was shipped on the Potomac, James, and York Rivers…

18. How were America’s rivers used by early explorers and settlers? They traveled along the rivers and shipped goods to seaports.

19. How did some enslaved Africans react to slavery? Some ran away, others resisted working, and some participated in slave rebellions.

20. Describe how enslaved Africans could gain their freedom: Owners could free them, they could buy their own freedom, and some ran away.